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Trio combines to drive in seven runs for Cards

Holliday, Kozma and Robinson have big days at the plate in win vs. Mets

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Holliday's second RBI double 0:20

3/2/14: Matt Holliday drives a deep RBI double to center field

By Jenifer Langosch
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MLB.com |

JUPITER, Fla. -- A pair of RBI doubles by Matt Holliday and a two-run double from Pete Kozma paced the Cardinals in their first win in Grapefruit League play, an 7-1 victory over the Mets at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday.

Holliday, making his spring debut in left field, delivered his first run-scoring hit in the first inning off Mets right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka. Matt Carpenter had doubled to lead off the inning.

Two innings later, with Jose Valverde on the mound, Holliday drove home Peter Bourjos on a two-out double over Mets center fielder Juan Lagares. Holliday, who exited for a pinch-runner after the hit, has now reached base in each of his four Grapefruit League plate appearances.

The Cardinals finished the game with six doubles, including one from Kozma, whose two-run double in the sixth padded St. Louis' lead. Shane Robinson hit a two-run single later in the frame.

The Mets got a two-inning start from Matsuzaka, who is trying to win a spot in New York's rotation. He retired the five batters he faced after Holliday's first-inning hit. Of the 26 pitches Matsuzaka threw, 18 were strikes.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha could not match Matsuzaka's two-inning start, but Wacha did get through his spring debut without allowing a run. The Mets loaded the bases with the help of two walks and a Curtis Granderson double before Wacha ended the 30-pitch first with a groundout.

Wacha recorded two outs on nine pitches in the second before manager Mike Matheny turned to his bullpen. The Cardinals had a targeted pitch count of 40 for Wacha.

"Fastball command wasn't there at all today," Wacha said. "I threw a couple pitches I was happy with. If I can keep working on that and working on hitting my spots 0-0, 0-1, it'll be a lot better. I didn't really control the counts the way I wanted to today and ended up walking a couple guys."

Reliever Keith Butler closed the inning for Wacha and then pitched a scoreless third. Rising left-handed prospect Tim Cooney followed with two perfect innings and struck out four. Zach Petrick, the organization's reigning Minor League pitcher of the year, also preserved the shutout with two scoreless innings.

Lefty Steven Matz was the first Mets pitcher on Sunday to make a scoreless appearance. Right-hander Logan Verrett followed him on the mound and allowed a two-out RBI single to Robinson, who had replaced Holliday.

Up next: The Cardinals head north to Lakeland, Fla., on Monday for a 12:05 p.m. CT game against the defending American League Central champion Tigers (listen on Gameday Audio). It will be a homecoming of sorts for shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who will make the trip to face his former teammates. He spent the last four seasons with Detroit before signing with the Cardinals during the offseason. Joe Kelly, who is competing for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation, will face Detroit's Drew Smyly in the first of two spring games between the clubs.